Armstrong retires from professional football

Royals defender Chris Armstrong has decided to retire after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis

READING FC have confirmed that defender Chris Armstrong has decided to retire from professional football after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

The 28-year old was diagnosed with MS in December 2009, but opted to battle the effects privately and he succeeded in returning to first team football on a number of occasions this season.

But he and his medical advisers have now come to this decision that retirement is the best option, in light of the continued rigours of professional sport at the upper level.

"Obviously this has been a very difficult decision," he said. "I absolutely love football but this is the right thing for me to do now. It's right for me professionally, medically and also personally.

"With the illness, both the medical team and I didn't feel I could regularly perform to the level you have to in the professional game. There are so many games, every single one is played at a high tempo, it's very hard to perform week in and week out. I know I gave it my best shot but ultimately I was not physically able to do it.

"I've been very fortunate to play for Reading and all my other clubs, I've been lucky to have a career that I know many people would be delighted to experience. I'll miss being a part of the game on a daily basis."

Manager Brian McDermott said: “Chris has been an inspiration to me. Over a long period I've had many conversations with him, he's a quiet, unassuming man who absolutely sums up everything that is good about human beings. Nobody could have tried harder and given more than he has given."

Armstrong joined the club in 2008 from Sheffield United in a career that started at Oldham Athletic.